Ganesh mandals to provide manpower for river rejuvenation

TNN | Updated: Aug 3, 2019, 11:07 IST

PUNE: Leading Ganesh mandals in the city, including ‘Manache Ganapati’, have joined hands for rejuvenation of rivers, under which manpower will be provided to the civic and district administration to carry out afforestation alongside the riverbed. The mandals, including Shree Kasba Ganapati mandal, Tambdi Jogeshwari, Guruji Talim, Tulshibaug, Akhil Mandai and Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati, made this announcement at a news conference on Friday. They said a dedicated citizens’ group would also be formed to monitor and coordinate government projects intended to deal with river pollution. “Four years ago, the mandals supported the idea of carrying out environment-friendly immersion by immersing idols in artificial tanks. It is now on the authorities to take it forward,” Shrikant Shete, president of Kasba mandal, said. Vivek Khatavkar of Tambdi Jogeshwari mandal said the mandal would undertake massive tree plantation drive to support the riverfront development. “The patch between Kharadi and Khadakwasla should be used for afforestation by the civic administration, for which mandal workers will chip in,” he said.

Ganesh festival sound checkState BJP chief Chandrakant Patil on Friday said he would try to replicate the Kolhapur model of “Dolby-free Ganesh festival” in Pune, a concept he had introduced in the western Maharashtra district as its guardian minister. “The project aimed at reducing the noise pollution caused by the Dolby sound system. We will try to replicate the model in Pune too,” said Patil, who’s now the guardian minister of Pune.